The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has called on all stakeholders involved in the protection of rights of persons with albinism to unite efforts and reinvigorate their commitment in promotion and protection of the rights of persons with albinism in the country.
The call was made during a National Accountability Session which CCJP organized at River side hotel in Lilongwe to engage other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and discuss challenges being faced in the work of protection of the rights of persons with albinism.
Speaking during the meeting, the CCJP National Coordinator, Mr. Boniface Chibwana said there is great need for the stakeholders to work together and address gaps that are still there in as far as rights of persons with albinism are concerned.
“We have seen that there are no committed efforts in promotion and protection of the rights of persons with albinism in the country which has led to a number of challenges. The National Action Plan that was drawn to resolve issues on albinism, there are a number of gaps especially on civic education, security and healthcare but the action plan is coming to an end. This has led to a number of challenges for people with albinism, for example, there is high dropout rate of children from school because parents are afraid to send them to school due to the continued attacks. As CSO’s we have to do our best and find solutions to these problems through our advocacy role”. Said Mr. Chibwana
The National CCJP Coordinator continued by expressing disappointment on the lack of government’s willingness to make public the findings of inquiries that have been done to find out the market of body tissues of persons with albinism.
“We started asking for these results from the previous regime and we are asking the same from the current regime but there are no tangible responses. Those findings could have made a lead to what is really happening in relation to the continued attacks of persons with albinism happening.” He suggested
In addition to that, he expressed concern on government’s slow progress in funding the National Action Plan which has affected a number of areas. For example, he said there were resources allocated to construct houses for persons with albinism, but out of the initial 28 houses that were supposed to be constructed, only 12 have been finished.
Virginia Chimodzi, who is the deputy secretary for the National executive Council for Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) said CCJP’s engagement of other SCOs was crucial because there are a number of challenges affecting lives of persons with albinism which have to be addressed.
“Looking at the situation of persons with albinism in the country, there are still a lot of things that have to be done. For example we need to conduct more awareness campaign for people to fully understanding what albinism is especially to family members, friends and communities at large in order to eradicate people’s myths and misconceptions about albinism” said Miss Chimodzi
The CSOs therefore, committed to do a number of things including review of the National Action Plan and continue engaging government for it’s full support on the identified gaps in order for persons with albinism to be safe in the country.